With three-fourths of all American birds represented in Texas, there
are birds for the watching anytime, anywhere in the state. No other state offers the
birding variety (or challenge) that Texas does. In fact, Roger Tory Peterson devotes an
entire volume just to this state: A Field Guide to the Birds of Texas, available at
virtually any bookstore. Varied vegetation, altitudes from sea level to over 8,000 feet,
rainfall from less than 10 inches annually to more than 55 inches, and a strategic
position on the North American continent, combine to provide Texas diversity of avian
habitats. In addition, Texas' resident bird population is augmented by multitudes of
migrating species.

Refuges offer exceptional viewing of both rare specimens and large
concentrations of familiar species.

Brown Pelican

The 624 mile Texas coastline teems with shorebirds - gulls, pelicans, egrets and
roseate spoonbills, plus the worlds few remaining whooping cranes that winter at the
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Green Jay

The lower Rio Grande Valley area hosts tropical birds, Inca and white-winged doves, and
is the only place in the nation where such species as white-fronted doves, chachalacas,
and green jays may be observed. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is an ideal spot to add
them to a life list.

The Texas Panhandle is home to horned larks, kites and prairie
chickens. Lakes attract mallard, baldpate and pintail migrants. Muleshoe National Wildlife
Refuge is haven for thousands of wintering sandhill cranes.

The Hill Country hosts large flocks of wild turkevs, almost countless resident and migrant
species, and is the nesting place of rare golden-cheeked warblers. More open terrain is
habitat of fleet-footed roadrunners.

The East Texas pine forests are the home
of several eastern species including the wood thrash, Acadian flycatcher and Kentucky
warbler. A few swallow-tailed kites may live here with, perhaps, the once-thought-to-be
extinct ivory-billed woodpeckers.